Yes, this is very funny. But help us with the point of the presentation. Was it just the humor?
There is an exercise called "The Chinese Expert" where someone pretends to interpret a Q&A session between a Chinese expert and the audience. This exercise teaches how we can be convincing even when we are talking gibberish. Does this presentation make the same point?
I'm not sure what the point of the presentation is, Tony. It was first published in the Annals of Improbable Research, (who also give the Ig Nobel Prizes), a publication focusing on research that makes people laugh and then think.
What do you think it's about?
My interpretation of this presentation is that it mimics a typical dreary academic lecture with lots of charts, diagrams and citations, but doesn't say anything at all. A demonstration of poor presentation style done as humor.
The reason it's so funny to me, is that I've nodded off in many such presentations, and the speaker might as well have been saying "chicken chicken!"
Yes, this is very funny. But help us with the point of the presentation. Was it just the humor?
ReplyDeleteThere is an exercise called "The Chinese Expert" where someone pretends to interpret a Q&A session between a Chinese expert and the audience. This exercise teaches how we can be convincing even when we are talking gibberish. Does this presentation make the same point?
I'm not sure what the point of the presentation is, Tony. It was first published in the Annals of Improbable Research, (who also give the Ig Nobel Prizes), a publication focusing on research that makes people laugh and then think.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think it's about?
My interpretation of this presentation is that it mimics a typical dreary academic lecture with lots of charts, diagrams and citations, but doesn't say anything at all. A demonstration of poor presentation style done as humor.
The reason it's so funny to me, is that I've nodded off in many such presentations, and the speaker might as well have been saying "chicken chicken!"
I think Dr. Zongker was trying to illustrate a cartoon. Go look at
ReplyDeletehttp://158.130.17.5/~myl/languagelog/archives/000230.html
Richard Garber
I wondered if that was the case, too, Richard. Great cartoon!
ReplyDelete